JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Difficulties in melding new leadership at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources appear to have contributed to delays in reporting E. coli test results at the Lake of the Ozarks.
The internal staff problems were described by current and former Natural Resources employees during interviews earlier this month with Senate investigators examining how the delayed E. coli tests were handled. Transcripts were released Friday to The Associated Press.
Those transcripts show a disconnect between newly selected agency leaders - who did not know about the E. coli testing program - and Natural Resources employees involved with the testing, who said department leaders seemed to take a long time releasing the results.
Water samples taken May 26 from the lake showed high E. coli levels in several places. Agency officials received final results on May 29, but the report wasn't released until June 26, when lower E. coli levels from later testing also were reported.
According to Natural Resources employees interviewed by Senate investigators, the new department leaders handled the E. coli test results differently, including a directive not to discuss the findings with anyone outside the agency.
Alan Reinkemeyer, the director of the agency's Environmental Services Program, said there is a "learning curve" with new administrations.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 22 on 09/27/2009